Ludhiana, May 11: Describing 1984 anti-Sikh riots
as a "painful" episode, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday
said the issue cannot be kept alive for ever and some people
were raking it up for their vested interests.
He also disapproved of some of his partymen seeking votes
in Punjab in the name of a "Sikh Prime Minister", saying
religion should not be mixed with politics and that he was an
Indian first.
To a question of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Singh said at a
press conference that it was a "painful episode. But it cannot
be kept alive for ever."
After the UPA government came to power in 2004, he said,
it had reviewed the cases and enhanced compensation for the
victims.
"Par kuch log apni dukan chamkane ke liye is kisse ko
hamesha ke liye zinda rakhna chahte hei. Is se na to desh ko
koi faida hei na Sikh community ko (Some people want to keep
this issue alive for their vested interests. It is not going
to help either the country or the Sikh community)," he said.
On his party seeking votes in Punjab in the name of a
"Sikh Prime Minister", Singh said, "I sincerely believe that
religion should not be brought into political matters. I have
not authorised anybody to use my name. I am an Indian first.
"I am Prime Minister of India and I represent all
sections of the Indian people. Therefore, I do not think in
terms of Siks and non Sikhs," he said.
Bureau Report
